Career and Technical Education: A New Look. In Brief: Fast Facts for Policy and Practice No. 8.

Kerka, Sandra

The renaming of vocational education (VE) as career and technical education (CTE) has been motivated partly by the need to address VE's image. However, name changes go beyond concern for image. Today's CTE offers broader career pathways than did previous VE programs. After a decade of academic-vocational integration and tech prep, it is recognized that school-to-career programs are about emphasizing a dual career path that leaves the option of college open while providing students with marketable skills. Workplace changes have made technical employment the fastest growing sector of the labor market. The increasing opportunities and salaries associated with technical occupations have affected the demographics of today's CTE students, who are often in the top 5% of their high school classes. Students and the media are getting the message about CTE. Changing parents' minds may be harder, however. The following guidelines can help practitioners and administrators inform parents of the substance beneath the name change to CTE: (1) demonstrate the successful outcomes of CTE; (2) emphasize the marketability of CTE graduates; (3) cultivate the support of influential advocates; (4) be responsive to the labor market; and (5) shift the focus to postsecondary success, not postsecondary admission. (Contains 15 references.) (MN)